- Must visit
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
Main town museum with collections on Northampton's shoe industry, archaeology and art, plus family-friendly galleries.
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Bolton to Northampton among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £35 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 43m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £35, while a train costs an average of £64.
Distance: 181 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£64 Average Price | £35 Average Price Cheapest | £39 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 43m Average total duration Fastest 2h 13m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 15m Average total duration 4h 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 57m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Bolton to Northampton:
A coach is £29 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Bolton to Northampton costing on average £64.
Other travel options to Northampton take longer:
Coach takes on average 4h 45m.
You'll arrive about 44m sooner (2h 13m by train vs 2h 57m by car). Tickets start at around £64 compared to roughly £39 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Bolton to Northampton trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 16:54 Bolton | 3h01 | 19:55 Northampton | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Bolton to Northampton run on average 4 times per day, taking around 2h 13m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £59 but you can travel from only £29 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 05:13, the last at 21:41. The fastest train covers the 181 km distance in 2h 49m.
Distance 181 km |
Average train duration 2h 13m |
Cheapest ticket price £59 |
Trains per day 4 |
Fastest train 2h 49m |
First train 5:13 |
Last train 21:41 |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 28 days |
Discover the best of Northampton — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Northampton trip today.
Main town museum with collections on Northampton's shoe industry, archaeology and art, plus family-friendly galleries.
Independent museum at Delapré Abbey exploring the Battle of Northampton and local medieval history through immersive displays.
Community museum preserving village and manor history in a traditional setting, offering a quieter local-history visit near Northampton.
Popular town park with a lake, museum, broad lawns and tree-lined paths, ideal for a relaxed walk close to the centre.
Major urban park with gardens, sports facilities and open green space, good for walking and seeing local daily life.
Historic market square at the heart of Northampton, useful for shopping, events and soaking up the town-centre atmosphere.
A crumbly hard cheese made in Northamptonshire since the 18th century. Its rich, nutty flavour makes it one of the county’s best-known traditional foods.
A traditional British sausage strongly associated with Northamptonshire, usually made with seasoned pork and herbs and served with mash or in breakfasts.
A local style of pork pie linked to Northamptonshire’s boot and market town heritage, with hot-water crust pastry and seasoned pork filling.
Well-known town centre restaurant focused on Turkish and Mediterranean cooking, with generous portions and a lively atmosphere.
Historic riverside pub and brewery tap for Phipps NBC ales, with hearty British food and a relaxed traditional atmosphere.
Elegant restaurant in Delapré Abbey serving modern British dishes in a refined heritage setting suited to a longer meal.
Moderate for England: rooms and dining cost less than London, while buses and casual meals are manageable for most visitors.
In restaurants, 10-12.5% is usual if service is not included. Round up taxi fares. Tipping in cafés is optional, though spare change is appreciated.
Official public transport app
Northampton Station -> Northampton Town Centre
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bolton to Northampton by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Northampton, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Bolton to Northampton trains use the Bolton to Wellingborough station pair. Use this guide to compare Bolton and Northampton train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Bolton is 1 km from Bolton city centre. Public transport options include:
Bolton has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Bolton.
Wi-Fi is available at Bolton.
Ticket office support is available at Bolton.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Bolton: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Bolton: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bolton: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category A Station, this station is scooter friendly, a scooter permit is required for travel, Level access through the ticket barriers to an overpass and via lifts to all platforms. Lifts available from first to last trains, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Accepts Cash & Cards, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Wheelchairs available open hours: As per ticket office opening hours, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need